Omiyage: Handmade Gifts from Fabric in the Japanese Tradition

Kumiko's book is beautiully photographed, and well designed, it's a small treasure like crafts you'll find inside. I am a NOVICE sewer, and a very visual right-brained person. I find the instructions, simple and easy to follow, the addition of illustrations, photographs, sewing tips, and patterns (you can photocopy from the back of the book) are indeed helpfull. At first I was looking for a book on sewing small handbags, like the Sakura or Conpaito. I was delighted to see that this book includes an assortment of ; good luck dolls, hai-hai dolls, oriental style pin cushions, Temari balls, sewing box & thimble, several flowers, butterflies and small animals. Ms. Sudo touches on the point that Omiyage is inspired by origami, and gives tips on the fabric folds, purse hems, making fabric beads, and tying decorative knots.I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making the jump from paper origami to fabric projects, also to those interested in sewing crafts wanting to branch out into small projects (other than stuffed animals), and of course to anyone who enjoys making and giving hand-made gifts.

I was delighted to find this book is not only beautifully written but the projects are also easy to make. I whipped my first project up in about two hours.

Don't hesitate to buy this book!! It is not only beautifully done, but all the projects can be hand sewn which may be very appealing to some who like take-along projects. I have looked through and read it several times before I could even begin to pick the first three projects I will be making. Can hardly wait to share it with my friends. I am a bead artist and these beautiful "presentation" masterpieces will be the perfect addition to giving a most special gift inside as well as out.

I found this book to be very inspiring, with its lovely photos that show off the projects, which are made of beautiful fabrics (I *want* those fabrics!). Ms. Sudo's instructions are very clearly written and illustrated, although I had a moment of confusion when she discussed the "hem" for the pouches (a lot of the projects in this book are cleverly designed pouches), then I realized she was referring to the casings for the drawstrings.She also discusses, briefly, the custom of "omiyage", of gift-giving, in the Japanese culture, and shares some of her reminisces of her girlhood in Japan.I have already made the "Chinese Bellflower" (shown on the cover of the book), it features a tiny pouch in the back of it. I ended up giving it to my best friend who admired it as I made it! Many of the projects take so little fabric, just scraps really, although she does give generous yardage suggestions. As I mentioned before, there are many clever little pouches, as well as some boxes and little fabric temari balls. She also covers instructions for teaching classes using her book. All the patterns needed for the projects are located at the back, where they can be traced off or photocopied, and there are some "general" instructions in the beginning of the book (for the pouch "hems" as well as fabric beads) that the reader is referred to instead of having to re-print them over and over for each project.All in all, I really enjoy this book, and I'm looking forward to making the other projects featured in it.

This book is truly unique, and unbelievably special. The author mentions many traditions, legends, and childhood experiences which make certain projects all the more special. There are numerous types of dolls (many with legends behind them), many types of fabric containers, etc. -- all of which would make splendid gifts or favors. (There is even a fabric cicada with an inspiration legend behind it, a sparrow purse, etc.) Each of these projects is wholly unique and strikingly beautiful -- although the temari ball is of the type that children played with, rather than the intricate threaded sorts popular for Christmas tree ornaments. Although I have not yet had time to make any of the projects, the directions and diagrams appear very clear, and I can't wait to get rolling. These are definitely not "same old, same old" -- each is unique, and incredibly special.